Squelch Tales - San Diego Repeater Association

Squelch Tales
A Publication of The San Diego Repeater Association, Inc.
November/December 2014
Ahead in Squelch Tales
This, the final 2014 issue of Squelch Tales, focuses on the final events of the year, the 2014
SANDRA Holiday Party and the December 2014 Fry's Ham Operating Day. These are image
intensive articles requiring additional space and as such BOD Minutes and other usual features are
not included.
Errata, mistakes, updates and shorts to previous issues of Squelch Tales are included as SQ
receives input form the members and officers of SANDRA.
SANDRA Celebrates 2014
December 4 marked the day of the SANDRA 2014
Holiday Party. This, the last SANDRA event of 2014
and a joint event with FILAMARAS, the Filipino
American Amateur Radio Society, is traditionally the
largest SANDRA membership meeting of the year,
attracting nearly one hundred guests and filling the the
large double room at the County Education facility on
Linda Vista Road. The Holiday party represented the
end of a busy SANDRA year as SANDRA members
and Board members were heavily involved with the
ARRL Convention held in San Diego this past
September and also marked the installation of
SANDRA's first digital repeater on Mt. Otay, this past
summer. The meeting is a pot luck with additional
SANDRA sponsored food; the pot luck contributions
are the heart of the meal and certainly the most looked
forward to by attendees each year, this year being no
exception. The meeting is also one of the few times
Grand Prize winner Stoggie Panger,
AJ6AX, being congratulated by President
Barbie Flinn, WA6URS.
many SANDRA members actually meet faceto-face rather than at the other end of an RF
signal. As a result there was a great deal of
boisterous conversation and celebration.
A land office business in ticket sales – photo by
Bob Avilla, N6AVR.
The meeting is always scheduled to start at
6:00 pm with dinner commencing at 6:30 pm.
Continued on page 3.
Squelch Tales – November/December 2014 – Page 2
Entrance to the Fry's store in Murphy Canyon
– photo by Joe Acevedo, N6SIX.
Fry's Ham Operating Day
Saturday December 13th was a blustery winter
day with threatening rain showers following the
cold front that had passed through earlier in the
day. Despite the weather, San Diego hams
representing local amateur radio organizations
set up and operated from the parking lots of the
San Diego and San Marcos Fry's Electronics
stores. Organized by the Palomar Amateur
Radio Club and the Six Shooters ARC, this was
the third successive Fry's Ham Radio Operating
event to take place in the past 18 months. The
purpose of the event is to expose the public to
the benefits of amateur radio activities, to
potentially stir interest in increasing public
participating in amateur radio and to expose
newly licensed amateurs to the various clubs
Ham events need antennas. The El Cajon
Amateur Radio Club tower.
and activities available in the area. The event is
envisioned to take place semi-annually in the spring
and late fall. Ed Felter (AI6O) and Joe Acevedo
(N6SIX) organized the San Diego Fry's event for the
Six Shooters ARC.
Joe Acevedo N6SIX at the Six Shooters ARC
booth.
Despite December 13th being in the middle of the
Christmas shopping season and the blustery weather,
seven amateur radio organizations set up booths and
portable stations in the north-east corner of the
Murphy Canyon Fry's parking lot.
Please turn to page 5.
Squelch Tales – November/December 2014 – Page 3
SANDRA Celebration – contd.
The past several years, the rooms have not
been available on time, resulting in a
delayed start of the festivities. However,
this year the rooms were available as
scheduled, were set up by 6:00 pm and the
meal started on the dot of 6:30.
Unfortunately, many guests familiar with
the recent spate of late starts were still
arriving with their pot luck contributions
well past 7 pm, dragging dinner out and
delaying the start of the meeting.
The highlight of the meeting is always the
Some of the fare available to attendees - photo N6AVR drawing for prizes. Every attendee is given
a prize ticket upon entering the meeting
and everyone is allowed to buy as many
additional tickets as their wallets and good
sense will allow. Several individuals intent
on winning, made sizable ticket purchases
and they were not disappointed, as they all
won multiple times. The strategy was
definitely born out for those who tried it,
which should be considered by the rest of
us for next time.
The hungary throng lining up to eat – photo N6AVR.
President Barbie Flinn, WA6URS, opened
the meeting by explaining a change in
drawing for the grand prize; the grand prize
would be drawn after all other prizes had
been claimed and all tickets would be
returned to the hopper so that every ticket
had an equal chance of being chosen. In
this way everyone had their proportionate
chance of winning, the ones with the
multiple ticket strategy having the greatest
chance of winning. The Grand Prize, a
Kenwood TM-V71A 2meter/440 Mhz
transceiver, was won by Stoggie Panger,
AJ6AX (Stoggie did not employ the highvolume ticket purchase strategy).
After all the prizes had been awarded,
including all of the potted poinsettias on the
tables, volunteers cleaned the remains of the
food and decorations and attendees said their
good byes until next year. Additional
pictures on the bottom of page 6. -{SQ}-
At last, food and companionship.
Please turn to the next page.
Squelch Tales – November/December 2014 – Page 4
Prize Winners
Call
Prize
Call
Prize
W2IRI
Multimeter
N6WHK
Soldering Station
K2BEN
Antenna
WD6APP
$25 HRO Gift Card
W5COM
WeatherLube
Ai6O
$25 HRO Gift Card
KJ6BYF
Power Bank
KE6THZ
Soldering Station
N6VVY
$25 Visa Gift Card
AG6AB
$25 Visa Gift Card
KE6THZ
$25 HRO Gift Card
WA6URS
Multimeter
AG6IO
Repeater Directory
W6JLE
Screwdriver Set
AI6O
$25 HRO Gift Card
K6WD
Multimeter
N6WHK
Antenna
KJ6BYF
Multimeter
WD6APP
Gift Certificate
N6KGZ
25 foot Tape Measure
AF6YU
25 foot Tape Measure
KG6IYN
Multimeter
N6AVR
25 foot Tape Measure
N6JOJ
Screwdriver Set
KG6IYU
Multimeter
AG6IO
Multimeter
Angie DeLisle
Screwdriver set
N67WHK
25 foot Tape Measure
KG6IYN
Comet 6PQ
AF6YU
Multimeter
WA6YBX
ARRL Handbook
KJ6BYF
Multimeter
W2IRI
Toolkit
WA6MHZ
Multimeter
WA6URS
Yaesu FT 60 R
WA0AVS
25 foot Tape Measure
AI6CX
Yaesu FT 60 R
K6WD
Multimeter
W2IRI
Baofeng UV5R
WA6MHZ
Multimeter
AI6O
WeatherLube
KK6DZA
Multimeter
KG6EJU
Power Bank
AI6CX
Multimeter
KG6IYN
Repeater Directory
KI6VIA
Multimeter
Grand Prize Stoggie Panger, AJ6AX -
Kenwood TM-V71A 2 meter / 70 cm Transceiver
Squelch Tales – November/December 2014 – Page 5
Fry's Ham Operating Day – continued from page 2.
First time attendee 440 Hangout -photo
N6SIX.
Red Cross – photo N6SIX.
Nearly 100 visitors came to watch the operators and talk about ham radio. Several new hams were
introduced to local clubs and many people introduced to ham radio. In addition, some long time local
hams turned out to meet and greet fellow hams.
The San Diego Six Shooters ARC is one of the most active local amateur radio organizations with
monthly technical meetings that routinely draw attendances of 50 or more people. Outgoing president
Ed Felter (AI6O) and Vice President Joe Acevedo (N6SIX) have done an exemplary job of organizing
the club and attracting membership participation, a feat that they credit primarily to a solid monthly
program. Bruce Krypton (KG6IYN) is the incoming 2015-2016 Six Shooters president; officer terms
run for two years with the president and vice president terms staggered to maintain continuity. Six
Shooters operates a six meter repeater located on Mt. San Miguel with a frequency of 53.580 MHz, a
negative offset of 500 Khz and a PL of 103.5. This repeater is linked to the N6LXX repeaters system
connecting throughout the southwest US ,Texas, and Oklahoma. There are four weekly Sixshooter
Nets, Monday at 8 PM local on 50.200 USB, Wednesday at 7 PM local using the 53.580 repeater
(offset – 500 Khz, PL 103.5), Friday at 8 pm local on the 53.580 repeater and Sunday at 9 pm local on
146.910 (negative 600 Khz offset and PL of 100.0) all amateurs are invited. (Continued next page).
REACT – photo N6SIX
Convair 220 has been to each Fry's day.
Squelch Tales – November/December 2014 – Page 6
Fry's Ham Operating Day – continued from previous page.
New to Fry's Ham Operating Day were Roy Gallagher (KR6RG) and John Talbot (K6XI) who operate
five repeaters on Mt. Otay and Mt. Palomar. They go be the names San Diego Community Open
Repeaters and also 440 Hangout. They are principally focused on getting new hams up and running.
They also support REACT, the Midway, CERT, ARES The San Diego Blood Bank and any
organization that asks. Most active is their 449.440 (minus 5 MHz, 107.2 tone) repeater where they
welcome everyone but request that operators be respectful and operate professionally. Roy may be
contacted by email at [email protected].
El Cajon ARC – photo N6SIX.
One way to keep dry – photo N6SIX.
Despite the the weather and the Christmas shopping season being in full swing, this Fry's Operating
event drew a great deal of interest and hopefully furthered peoples interest in amateur radio. The next
event should take place in April 2015, keep it in mind as an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday. -{SQ}-
Additional Pictures from SANDRA's 2014 Celebration
The President wins one – President
Barbie Flinn WA6URS with Bruce
Kryption KG6IYN.
A two-fer.
Squelch Tales – November/December 2014 – Page 7
Errata, Corrections, Amplifications and Shorts: This sections acknowledges errors and omissions
or allows additions to previous SQ issues. We rely on feedback from the readers – please write.
Repeater Status:
Otay UHF 449.200 repeater - The repeater is putting out micro-watts, again. When the new repeaters
from Yaesu are received, one will be programmed for 449.200 and installed on Otay. It will be run at
reduced drive power and amplifier output. The notch cavity that has been place in the transmit feedline will be removed. Then the defective repeater will be sent to Yaesu to see if they will again fix it
under warranty. The second repeater will be programed for Laguna and attempt to be interfaced with
an RLC controller on the bench. As the RLC interface is worked out it will be applied to the Otay
repeater.
No change in any other Otay repeater.
Lyons - No changes this past month.
Sharp Hospital - No changes this past month.
Laguna - No changes this past month.
Hi-Pass - Paint has been ordered for painting the enclosure and should arrive next week or more. A
paining trip is being scheduled. There will be no disruption in operations while the painting is being
done.
Kearney Mesa - No changes this past month.
No Mail received this month.
Callsign
WB6WLV
WB6WLV
WB6WLV
WB6WLV
WB6WLV
WB6WLV
Location
Mt. Otay
Mt. Otay
Mt. Otay
Mt. Otay
Mt. Laguna
Mt. Laguna
Input
146.040
222.460
444.200
1270.300
147.750
222.600
Output
146.640
224.060
449.200
1282.300
147.150
224.200
Callsign
WB6WLV
K6GAO
W6SS
WA6AIL
WB6WLV
Location
Input
Output
Mt.Laguna 444.500 449.500
Hi-Pass
144.680 145.280
Lyon's Peak 146.865 146.265
Sharp Hospital 147.285 147.885
San Diego
442.320 447.320
All SANDRA repeaters use PL 107.2
SANDRA NETS
Sunday
8:00 P.M. Mt. Otay Repeater
Wednesday
7:30 P.M. Mt. Laguna Repeater
GUIDELINES SUMMARY
SANDRA, Inc. operates their repeaters for service in the San Diego area.
The policy of the organization is that the repeaters are available for all
licensed amateur radio operators to use so long as applicable rules and
regulation are observed, whether members of SANDRA or not.
Newsletter exchanges are desire with regard to format, suitability and style
is reserved. Ads are $50 per full page, $27 per half page and $15 per quarter
page. Business cards are $8. Artwork is due by the first week of the month
to the P.O. Box. Liability for errors in copy is limited to the printing of a
correction in the subsequent issue. Permission is hereby granted to reprint
items from SQUELCH TALES . Opinions or editorials are not necessarilly
the position of the Board or the organization of SANDRA, Inc.
The SANDRA membership meets the first Thursday in the Months of
March, June, September and December. Meetings start at 7:00 P.M. and are
located at the San Diego County Education Center, 6401 Linda Vista Road,
SQUELCH TALES
San Diego. Board meetings take place on the first Thursday of January,
SQUELCH TALES is published bi-monthly by the San Diego Repeater
February, April, May, July, October and November. All SANDRA members
Association (SANDRA, Inc.), a corporation dedicated to the promotion of are encouraged to attend.
amateur radio. Distribution is free to members. Copyright SANDRA, Inc
SANDRA, Inc.
San DiegoRepeaterAssociation
P.O. Box 81103
San Diego, CA 92138